Mike Vrabel

[Amnorix]

As I did when Pioli came over, I'll post a separate thread because I think it's fair to say that I might have just a little more knowledge about the guy than most on here.

What you guys have traded for is a very smart, team-driven, reliable and consistent performer able to play both inside and outside linebacker in the 3-4, with championship credentials and very good leadership skills.

In my opinion, the reasons that the Chiefs have made this trade are as follows:

1. Veteran leadership. The Chiefs are VERY young. Rather than yet another young draft pick player, the Chiefs have decided that even though he is on the downside of his career and will only play for another year or two, it is important to bring in someone who can show the younger players HOW to practice, HOW to review film, HOW to prepare for games and be coachable, and HOW to play 3-4 linebacker.

2. Defensive flexibility. Vrabel can play both inside and outside in the 3-4 with relatively equal facility. A solid performer, he can set the edge, rush the passer and play hardnosed in the middle.

3. Position flexibility. In addition to his inside/outside talents in the 3-4, he also plays TE in goal line situations, showing the rest of the team that he is able and willing to do WHATEVER the coaches ask to help the team win.

He is, of course, on the downside of his career. Last year there was a very noticeable dropoff in his ability to make impact plays. Whereas in years gone by he stood out on the field for making key plays, last year he wasn't very noticeable. That's good in that you didn't often look at him as having screwed something up, but it's bad in that he wasn't making the strip-sacks that had earned him the love of Patriots fans.

Many here denigrate what he will bring ON the field, and wonder why the Chiefs are giving up anything for him. What you need to understand is that as much as they want what he brings on the field, what they are really bringing him here for is what he brings OFF the field. That is what makes him valuable to a ridiculously young, inexperienced Chiefs team.

And when he talks, those young guys will listen. His three rings ensure that. He will also help the coaches enforce their ways inside the locker room, and get the Chiefs players moving and operating in the right direction.

Though Pats fans knew his time was drawing near, we basically feel like there's been a death in teh family. Vrabel was universally loved and respected by Patriots fans, and we're very sad to see him go.

[Archie Bunker]

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/...ome&position=2

Patriots trade defensive leader Mike Vrabel to Chiefs
Startling swap
By Karen Guregian
Saturday, February 28, 2009 - Updated 41m ago


Mike Vrabel was one of Bill Belichick’s favorite players; that was no secret. He was one of the few Patriots [team stats] who could actually get away with being a bit of a class clown, and teasing the coach on occasion.

Vrabel was also one of the Pats’ most beloved and recognized players, having been a member of all three Super Bowl championships and making the Pro Bowl only a season ago.

That’s why the news of the veteran linebacker being traded to Kansas City was met with a sizable sense of shock and sadness yesterday.

“We’ve lost perhaps our best all-around football player. Defense, offense, special teams, Vrabes did it all,” Tedy Bruschi [stats] wrote in an e-mail. “His intelligence and on-field adjustments cannot be replaced. This team has just completely changed.”

Vrabel acknowledged the trade last night via e-mail, but declined to comment.

With Vrabel gone, and perhaps free agent safety Rodney Harrison [stats] opting to retire, the leadership dynamic on defense certainly will change.

Former Patriots linebacker Steve Nelson was completely taken aback when apprised of the trade.

“I guess that means they’re happy with their young outside linebackers. I don’t know. You’ve really caught me by surprise. He was really a great player for them,” Nelson said. “He was a real leader . . . that’s kind of a stunner.”

Vrabel was shipped to the Chiefs in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice. The popular outside linebacker was in Kansas City yesterday undergoing a physical before the deal was completed.

On the Chiefs side, it’s understandable why general manager Scott Pioli, who formerly ran the personnel operation in Foxboro, would want Vrabel’s veteran presence on his defense. Vrabel provides an immediate injection of the “Patriot Way” Pioli has been emphasizing and trying to implant since he took the Chiefs job.

So what gives from the Pats’ end? Might this be a precursor to another deal with KC involving Matt Cassel? And who is going to replace Vrabel at outside linebacker?

With the Pats hampered by Cassel’s $14.65 million cap charge thanks to his franchise tag tender, the club had to make room for yesterday’s signings of running back Fred Taylor [stats] and tight end Chris Baker.

The 33-year-old Vrabel was in the final year of his contract. He was expected to make $2.2 million in base salary, with a $1 million roster bonus, and count $4.3 million against the cap.

It’s possible KC could wind up as Cassel’s eventual landing spot but, for the time being, it appears the Vrabel trade was made to clear some immediate space.

Harrison, who is still undecided about his future, summed up his feelings in a few words.

“It’s business,” Harrison responded via text message, when asked his reaction to the Vrabel trade.

Nelson agreed, but still couldn’t fathom Vrabel being dealt.

“If it’s a matter of cap space, those are the difficult decisions teams have to make,” Nelson said. “But Vrabel is one of the guys I would think would be untouchable as far as, just (knowing the defensive) scheme, his versatility, his production. He might not have had the same production this year as he did last when he went to the Pro Bowl, but he played well at the end of the year. It’s just unfortunate you can’t let Vrabel retire on a team he should retire on.”

Vrabel did have an off-year by his standards. After his Pro Bowl season in which he led the team with 12 sacks, he had only four in 2008, while finishing fifth on the team in tackles with 62.
Click Here

While the linebacker denied having a shoulder problem during the season, a source close to him revealed Vrabel may now need surgery to repair the problem.

As for who will take his place, Pierre Woods is the likely candidate to play one outside linebacker spot opposite Adalius Thomas. The Pats also have 2008 third-round pick Shawn Crable, as well as recently re-signed Tully Banta-Cain.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by FAX

Warning, Will Robinson!!!

You might want to back up just a ding dang dimply darn moment there, Mr. Mecca. Our team has been coached by the most ineffective, ignorant, impotent, infantile, inept, inane, and imbecilic loggerheaded lumpenites ever to carry a whistle.

We don't know what we have. Especially on defense.

FAX

I don't think any amount of coaching is going to make Tamba Hali better, he just isn't very talented.

[wild1]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's worth our 2nd-7th round picks plus a first rounder next year.

Think about that.

well i said that off the cuff. i didn't know where new england's pick was. maybe they could send us cassel and one of their picks to switch in the first.

in a way, it's superior to just selecting Stafford or whomever at #3. You get a QB, but in this case you get to pick again late in the first, plus again in the second or whatever else they send back to even it up

if you are religiously devoted to the 'value charts' then it won't make sense, but on a level it does

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That's worth our 2nd-7th round picks plus a first rounder next year.

Think about that.

You act like Jimmy Johnsons draft trade chart is actually relevant. The Chiefs hold a pricey choice in the first round in a year that isn't exactly stacked with elite talent.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

And that's what angers me.

Tomlin kept the 3-4 in Pittsburgh even though he's a Dungy disciple.

People need to realize that schemes are roughly equal. There is nothing in a 3-4 that makes it intrinsically better than a 4-3. So, if you have 4-3 talent, but no 3-4 talent, why waste that talent?

It just doesn't seem logical.

Pittsburgh already had a championship Defense in place while the Chiefs have a pile of shit that happens to collect on the field when the opposing offense steps on.

[Mecca]

Oh great another "the draft chart is dumb" guy.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I don't think any amount of coaching is going to make Tamba Hali better, he just isn't very talented.

You may be right about him, Mr. Mecca. Or he may have been coached terribly, or he may have been fighting injuries, or they may have screwed with his head, or hell, they may have ruined him forever for all I know. I'm convinced that Hali isn't playing up to his full potential - whatever it is.

The point is that, over the past 4 years or so, I've seen enough of our guys leave the Chiefs and become valuable and valued contributors for other, far more competitive teams than we are to believe that we shouldn't keep a weather eye out for individual improvement once a new staff gets ahold of them.

FAX

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by wild1

well i said that off the cuff. i didn't know where new england's pick was. maybe they could send us cassel and one of their picks to switch in the first.

in a way, it's superior to just selecting Stafford or whomever at #3. You get a QB, but in this case you get to pick again late in the first, plus again in the second or whatever else they send back to even it up

if you are religiously devoted to the 'value charts' then it won't make sense, but on a level it does

Matt Stafford has a hell ofa lot more upside than Cassel could ever think of.

You trade for Cassel, you get him and the 23rd best player (thereabouts). You aren't going to save much money, and you are getting a QB with less long term upside.

Quality>Quantity

[wild1]

that is fair enough.

you go with whomever you feel is the better long term solution at qb. hit on the QB and no one will even remember the details. if pioli and haley think that guy is cassel, i will go along for now. if they just pick stafford outright i will take it too.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Oh great another "the draft chart is dumb" guy.

The chart isn't dumb, just needs updated. For the note, I'd rather the Chiefs took a chance on Stafford or Sanchez (preferably Sanchez) than trading for Cassel, but a trade like that wouldn't be the worst thing ever.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

The chart isn't dumb, just needs updated. For the note, I'd rather the Chiefs took a chance on Stafford or Sanchez (preferably Sanchez) than trading for Cassel, but a trade like that wouldn't be the worst thing ever.

It'd be pretty close to the worst thing ever...

[Ultra Peanut]

Mike Vrabel was one of Bill Belichick’s favorite players; that was no secret.

And yet he's willing to get rid of him. Says a lot about how useful he must be nowadays.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

And people aren't understanding the anger over the Vrabel signing. Most of it stems from the move to a 3-4 which totally misuses our #5 overall pick from last year. To us, that seems ridiculously inflexible and hopelessly myopic. Whatever happened to fitting the scheme to suit your players.

Guys like Tamba Hali aren't world beaters, but he can give you 6-8 sacks from the left end position in the 4-3. That has value. Glenn Dorsey has Warren Sapp type ability in a 3-4, but he is too small to play the nose, and too short and too important to play the end.

Those guys are worth something, and if we are flushing their talents due to such a strong committment to a scheme which is no better than any other, I question the judgment involved in such move.

This is a good post.

The answer may be that Pioli thinks Dorsey isn't worth a shit.

[Mecca]

New regimes don't care about the past regimes players or high picks, ask Matt Leinart about that.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

And yet he's willing to get rid of him. Says a lot about how useful he must be nowadays.

or it just shows Bill wants to get younger on D and free up cap space.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Seriously, have you read a single book on building a team? Go get Won for All or Management Secrets of teh New England Patriots or Patriots Reign or something to get some appreciation into the BB/SP system.

You're overly focused on talent. Do you think you mgiht draft ONE OR TWO defensive rookies THIS YEAR for that suck-ass defense of yours? Do you think having someone like Vrabel show him how to conduct himself on a path to NFL success might be slightly useful?

Do you think your ENTIRE roster will be flushed?

Fine -- do it your way. The Patriots, Colts and Steelers will continue to crush your squad as you focus exclusively on talent and ignore the other variables that are critical towards building a winning NFL football team

I tried explaining this to him earlier...but he's a drafturbator...you can't reason with him.